Local voter turnout off the charts on Election Day

A record number of voters turned out for Tuesday’s midterm elections in districts nationwide. Ontario and Monroe county residents were among them.

In Ontario County, a 62 percent turnout broke a record for midterms, which generally don’t generate a huge voter response. In 2010, 54 percent of voters cast ballots; in 2014, 52 percent.

The tally for Tuesday in Ontario County includes 2,700-plus absentee ballots that had so far arrived at the Board of Elections. Many more are expected to roll in via U.S. mail over the next week.

“We got a pile of 40 or 50,” Democratic Commissioner Charlie Evangelista said Wednesday, referring to the most recent batch of arrivals. The final number of ballots cast won’t be known until all are counted after the Nov. 13 deadline.

Sam Casella, who ran unsuccessfully for Canandaigua town supervisor on the No Bull independent line Tuesday, said he believes people were voting their frustrations — whether Democrat or Republican — driving up turnout numbers.

“That is good for democracy,” said Casella, although he noted that left independents like him caught in the cross-fire because people voted for their parties.

The number of absentee ballots is more than than double what was received for past midterms. Republican Commissioner Michael Northrup noted that there are more voters in Ontario County than in the past, and more older voters who are more apt to vote absentee.